By Lisa Morgan –
It was the big day! The first Football Sunday! I had been counting down the days for my team to open their season since last Super Bowl Sunday and now, it was finally here. Donning my team colors, I grabbed my keys and my rally towel (not that I thought they would need it, but just in case) and drove myself to Stadium Club Sports Bar and Bistro in Rancho Mirage. What better way to start off the new football season than in the newest sports bar in the valley. The building was very familiar to me. The beautiful Stuart Anderson’s building had been refitted with an amazing lighting and sound system, several televisions and a lot of very cool sport memorabilia. The only problem with trying to find the best seat in the house was that there didn’t seem to be a bad one. Jerseys representing every team were there enjoying the huge selection of menu items from appetizers, sliders, burgers, sandwiches, salads, pastas and my personal favorite for many reasons including the name, the Dodger Blue top sirloin steak dinner, all of which, were very reasonably priced. As I perused the menu, my jaw dropped as I was informed that happy hour prices were being honored all day! I can’t tell you what the best part of my experience was: The absolutely ideal chicken wings, the perfectly grilled, thick cut, top sirloin steak in its savory peppercorn sauce and blue cheese crumbles over asparagus, the friendly camaraderie of the super friendly and efficient servers or the whole place erupting together in amazement over a record tying field goal kick that never should have made it but did.
“It’s like the House of Blues meets a sports bar,” explains co-owner Billy Mieldazis, who has established his great reputation as a restauranteur here in the Coachella with launching The Falls and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouses as well as the Palm Desert nightclub Red 74. A 103-inch 3D, High Definition television provides viewing in the main seating area of the Stadium Club and an even larger one for the bar area. Several others fill the remaining walls of this beautiful building. Billy said he is working on getting even more cable boxes so that he can provide viewing of the more obscure, less popular games as he aims to satisfy every sports fan in his venue.
Sports bar by day, this place has the capacity to turn into an awesome, rhythm pumping music venue at night (post big game of course). Co-owner, John Knudsen, who has his own track record of success in Las Vegas, hired designers from Hyde Nightclub at the Bellagio giving this local bar an amazing light system creating a perfect party atmosphere. Along with their big, full, beautiful bar and incredible sound system, even the most timid dancer could be enticed to get their groove on and feel like a rock star. Everything about this place screams fun. Patron and Stadium Club fan, Dusty Martell states, “Congratulations. You get my vote for BEST NEW Fun place in the desert. I’ll be back and I’ll bring my Canadian friends with me. Cheers Stadium Club and a special shout out to Chef John and Sous chef Juan!”
Keep your eyes open for announcements of a big grand opening party, with master of ceremonies, BB Ingle leading the festivities. They’ll be having $1 Jagermeister shots during Thursday Night NFL games complete with “Jager Girls” as well as many other reasons to be part of the Stadium Club sports experience. Stadium Club plans to play host to countless televised sporting events and public parties for the televised Golden Globes and the Academy Awards. This not so little restaurant/night club/sports bistro has everything it needs to succeed in the arena of fun dining and entertainment. All it needs now is you. The Stadium Club is located at 69640 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage. For information about upcoming events keep an eye on Coachella Valley Weekly’s event listings or call Stadium Club at (760) 424-8190.
